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page3Historic Gas Times%u2022 Issue 113 %u2022 December 2022 %u2022We recently received an interesting biographical note from Les Lee. Les retired after 40 years%u2019 service in 1991 as the Service Operations Manager with Eastern Gas having started his career with North Thames Gas as an apprentice gas fitter. This is the first instalment from Les, which we think the readers will enjoy. %u201cThe story begins with my late father William Thomas (Bill) Lee BEM an emergency fitter (Pictured) with North Thames gas prior to that with the Gas Light and Coke Company Eastern Division. When he died he left with me a booklet %u201cWe Carried On%u201d that is a war record of the Eastern Division of the Gas Light and Coke Company written by William Dines, a Senior Representative. This document covers the GLCC preparation for War and the many exploits of the staff and events during the bombing of London and the London Docks. Apart from the information of that period, my particular interest is the exploits of my father Bill Lee. It was on the 7th September 1940 which was one of the particularly bad nights of bombing. At midnight whilst bombs were falling an urgent request was received from the West Ham. Council to say that a 48-inch mains was still on fire in Becton Road (Pictured) and it was considered that it was attracting the attention of the enemy bombers. Could the Company do anything to assist them? Very little information was available as telephone communications were difficult and there had already been serious damage to the mains and manufacturing stations. it was assumed that the huge flames were the result of supply back feeding from another manufacturing station. The conditions were so appalling and rather than detail men to attend the call was made for volunteers. The volunteers included W. Meiszner, E. Markham (who later was to be my instructor as an apprentice) my Father Bill Lee as the driver. Plus staff officers J. Kempton and H. Whiting. Although they had been out on many previous raids they were unanimous that they had not encountered anything to compare with that night. Bombs continued to fall, buildings crashed in front of them, shops and offices blazed on either side. To skirt craters the driver had to mount the pavement, fire hoses and force the car through a hail of rubble and shattered glass taking care to keep clear of burning buildings. On arrival at the destination they closed the valve. Flames lit up the area and the noise was deafening with bombs falling so close to them it seemed impossible that they could escape, as time and again they had to fling themselves to the ground. Lee said the night had one compensation for him, for once in his life he could step on the accelerator and drive through the red traffic lights. The operation took two hours in very dangerous circumstances. For his gallant conduct Bill Lee was awarded the British Empire Medal and the other members of the team received a Commendation for Brave Conduct. This is just one example of the planning and the bravery of the employees recorded in the Book %u201dWe Carried On%u201d His will and determination was handed down to me.I really did not know much at this time, as we had just had a bomb fall in our back garden and my grandmother was seriously injured and we moved house. Whist my father stayed in London the rest of our family evacuated to Brighton through the remainder of the Blitz. During the day my father carried out messenger services around the district in a car with a gas bag on top. Unofficially l accompanied on some journeys visiting works, show rooms and depots. Les LeeWe hope to further serialise further instalments of Les Lees autobiography, in future.RTLES LEEThomas (Bill) LeeGas engineers repairing gas mains on the Beckton Road, Canning Town, September 1940.